Health bosses have promised worried mothers-to-be that a Teesside maternity ward will reopen soon.

The ward at Guisborough General Hospital, near Middlesbrough, closed on 17 November because it could not recruit enough midwives.

But the chairman of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust told a public meeting the site will reopen "when clinical conditions are right."

More than 100 pregnant women in the area said they feared the unit would remain closed to save trust bosses money.

'Genuine concern'

But trust chairman John Foster gave a "categorical assurance" that the ward will reopen as soon as possible.

He said: "When the clinical conditions are right and it is safe to do so then this facility will open again.

"There are genuine concerns which we understand and we are aware of how popular Guisborough is."

But one young mother-to-be said: "It might be good for future mothers but I am due in February so it doesn't help me now.

"My criticism is that they stopped the service at Guisborough just like that.

"I am also worried that there will not be the after care service that we had at Guisborough."

The trust shut down the ward because of a shortage of 14 full-time midwives.

More than 1,600 people signed a petition against the move.